DA: Statement by Gordon Mackay, Democratic Alliance Shadow Deputy Minister of Energy, DA Calls Eskom’s Bluff – Show us the Koeberg Tender Documents Mr. Matjila (16/09/2014)

16th September 2014

DA: Statement by Gordon Mackay, Democratic Alliance Shadow Deputy Minister of Energy, DA Calls Eskom’s Bluff – Show us the Koeberg Tender Documents Mr. Matjila (16/09/2014)

The DA calls on Eskom Acting CEO, Colin Matjila, to make good on his promise to provide all relevant documents leading up to and forming the basis of Eskom's decision to award the tender for the replacement of steam generators at the Koeberg nuclear power plant to Areva.
   
The promise made by Mr. Matjila, on record, in the Public Enterprise portfolio committee meeting of the 3rd of September in response to questioning by DA MP, Gordon Mackay, was provided on the proviso that matter was not sub judice.  

With Westinghouse having abandoned its interdict against Eskom on Friday 5 September 2014, all excuses by Eskom to deny closer scrutiny of the deal by Parliament have fallen away.

   
The DA will now endeavour to ensure that all relevant documentation is provided to members of the Portfolio Committees for Energy and Public Enterprises in order to ferret out any wrongdoing.
   
Alarmingly, attempts to secure these documents via the office of Minister Lynne Brown have so far solicited nothing other than a stony silence. The DA finds itself asking – what does Minister Lynne Brown have to hide?
   
The DA seeks to determine whether Eskom has violated the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act of 2011 (PPPFA) which clearly stipulates how tenders of this nature must be evaluated. 

The PPPFA in essence requires that bids be assessed on the basis of the following formula: Price (90%) BEE (10%). The PPPFA therefore allows Eskom’s board tender committee very little wriggle room in determining its award decision.
   
Should the DA not receive these documents within 5 working days, the DA will submit a Public Access to Information Act request and subsequently refer the matter for investigation by the Public Protector.
   
The DA will not allow a R4 billion fraud to be committed against the South African people.

Issued by the DA